16 Amazing Redwood Escapes near San Francisco

If you’re like so many San Francisco Bay Area residents, nearby Muir Woods National Monument is your go-to place for a redwood-forest experience. But did you know about these 16 redwood parks within a one-hour drive of San Francisco? Each has its magical highlights, from breathtaking Dawn Falls in Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve to the strange and rare sandstone formations of El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve. You may even have these havens to yourself because they attract a fraction of Muir Woods’ crowds. Check them out today!

Monday, January 18, is the federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Thinking about all the good that King contributed in his lifetime – his advancement of civil rights, his moving words, his doctrine of peaceful change – you may be inspired to give back as well. If you’re interested in participating in the MLK Day of Service (#MLKDay) on Monday, you can give back while spending time in nature!

Warning: this topic is gruesome, and awesome. Last week, Land Project Manager Christine Aralia and I walked the Orick Mill Site with Texas State researcher Butch Weckerly. Butch has studied the Roosevelt elk in Redwood National and State Parks since 1997, witnessing local extinctions and population explosions of the elk over the years…